Indian American elected to city council in Texas

May 18, 2012 13:58 IST

After several months of consistent campaigning, Indian-American Himesh Gandhi has been elected to a city council in Texas, United States.

Gandhi, 35, elected to an 'At Large' seat on the Sugar Land City Council in Houston, received 2,468 votes (52.11 per cent) while Naomi Fulan Lam, a real estate broker, was in second place with 1,525 votes (32.20 per cent).

Houston Community College administration and Sugar Lands Building Standards commissioner Bill Cathey was third with 743 ballots (15.69 per cent).

A partner at the law firm of Hrbacek & Gandhi in Sugar Land in Houston, Gandhi succeeds Indian-American Councilman Thomas Abraham for At-Large Position One on the council. Abraham has to leave office due to term limits.

Gandhi is a 20-year resident of Sugar Land who graduated from Clements High school, Houston Baptist University and South Texas School of Law. He currently serves on Sugar Land's Planning and Zoning Commission.

Gandhi's focus is to "strategically move Sugar Land forward through financial accountability, quality development and public safety with an emphasis on the fundamentals of city services."

As the campaign season moved into full swing, residents evidently agreed with Gandhi's perspective that "citizens of Sugar Land expect safe neighbourhoods, quality development and excellent city services with financial accountability and low taxes".

As he and his campaign team walked neighbourhoods and knocked on doors, Gandhi spoke with residents about bringing a renewed energy to City Council and keeping Sugar Land a premier destination for both families and businesses.

With a full team of volunteers and a strong grass roots campaign effort, Gandhi took the majority of the vote and now moves towards being sworn in as one of Sugar Land's youngest council members.

"I am humbled and honoured that Sugar Land residents came out and showed their support by voting for me," said Gandhi.

"I am excited and ready to dive into the business of our city and work with fellow Council Members on the policies and decisions that drive Sugar Land and will keep it a great city. I look forward to representing the citizens in our community."

Ford Bend County is growing rapidly in population and it includes a thriving Indian American community, he added.

Born in Montreal, Canada, Gandhi moved to Texas when he was about three years old with his India-born parents. He and his wife Farrah live in the Telfair suburb in Sugar Land.